ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2018

07 July 2018

72 HobieCats (55 Hobie 16 and 17 Hobie Dragoon) offshore on lake Bracciano (Italy) for the Italian National Multiclass Championship 2018 just hosted in Centro Velico 3V. Three days races and friendship in a perfect Hobie style. Sailors from different ages united by the same slogan: #vincechisidivertedipiù! (#whomostenjoyswins)

"Who most enjoys wins": Who wouldn’t like to play a game with such a rule? For three days, in the green contest of lake Bracciano and in the familiar atmosphere of 3V Sailing Club (one of the best clubs in Italy in terms of young sailors and sailing school), more than 200 people between sailors and friends of the Hobie family chased themselves to win while having fun.

Obviously, this format had amazing results and at the end everyone won. The general weather condition delayed the well-known “ponente” wind (270°), testing sailors’ abilities, the Race Committee and all the technical staff in ensuring a good development of the event. They have been able to finish a good number of valid races, allowing the best teams to use their tactical experience and their boats’ speed in light wind conditions.

Hobie Cat 16 completed five races, bringing Antonello Ciabatti and Luisa Mereu to their eighth Italian championship’s title at highest step of the podium, the sixth consecutive… But this time they had to work hard for it: only some points lower we find the young team composed by Leonardo Morelli and Luisa Mereu, followed by Lorenzo Rossi and Diana Rogge in the third position. Leonardo Morelli and Victoria Giannetti also won the Youth title (under 21) and Valentina Gessa with Katia Pessola take the first Women place.

"It’s been very hard for us in Bracciano’s light wind" tells us Antonello Ciabatti “Luckily the last day we had some more wind". Luisa is happy for this placement: "It’s always fantastic participate to regattas with several teams. I’m very happy and I’d like to dedicate this title to CFadda, who has been our sponsor since many years." Now the Ciabatti-Mereu team will train in Poetto (Cagliari, Sardinia) for another important event taking place in August in Germany: la World Cat, a championship only by invitation for the best 10 teams from 10 different countries in the world. "This year we’re focusing on races" ends up Ciabatti "as our objective is to participate at the World 2019 Championship that will take place in Florida"

Hobie Dragoons have been luckier, finishing seven races resulting in the victory of Gianmaria Tuma and Ric\card D’Amico, authors of three first placements in a day. At the second place there are our former Italian champions Eleonora Tabussi and Leonardo Matarazzo, followed by Tommaso Angelaccio and Carlo Mustacchi. First Women’s place goes to Ginevra Valente and Maria Francesca Imperato.

CENTRO VELICO 3V – The perfect organization of the hosting club Centro Velico 3V, his president’s - Enrico Maltagliati – presence and availability, allowed everyone to enjoy both the wind-waiting time ashore and social activities. Logistic support to parking, trailers and boats worked perfectly as well.

On Saturday evening, during the club dinner, a very interesting movie made by Matteo Miceli has been showed, based on his experience around the world with a 40 feet Eco 40 and some of his records, alone and in two, through the Atlantic Ocean on a small six meters catamaran, Biondina Nera. Matteo Miceli in his long sailing experience also has a Hobie past.

FREESTYLE CONTEST – It rapidly became a very appreciated and waiting-for event. The freestyle contest gives a prize to the team able to hold for the longest time and in the most inclined position his catamaran. The winner of this singular and very funny race has been the team formed by Federico Spina and Ludovica Festino. Despite the light wind, several boats capsized trying to get the prize.

The Italian Championship also has been the last occasion for gaining point to get one of the six places Italy has this year for pre-qualified teams in the Gold Fleet of Hobie 2018 Multi-Europeans Finals.

22 February 2019

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